More on the smoking issue

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flynbulldog

flynbulldog

Joined
Nov 14, 2011
Messages
332
Location
Larkspur Co.
My dealer tells me that the smoke is caused by the huge size of the pistons along with the coatings used in the bore and the extreme velocity of the intake charge and some blow-by is normal until the rings are fully seated.

Rings have been lapped-in at the factory in production engines for 25 years

On the net I found an official statement that indicates that the smoke is coatings burning off.
Obviously if it were coatings burning off the bike wouldn't use oil and new owners are seeing significant oil consumption.

I called DNA and talked with "John" in customer service. He says that the smoking is caused from a scavenging pump and the bike will smoke until the system is pressurized.
I asked if it would continue to do this for the life of the bike and he said yes.

That is 3 different yet "official" excuses for the smoking issue.

I'm sorry but I find all of this quite problematic. I'm supposed to take delivery of my bike tomorrow, If my bike smokes I may back out of the deal.
 
flynbulldog said:
My dealer tells me that the smoke is caused by the huge size of the pistons along with the coatings used in the bore and the extreme velocity of the intake charge and some blow-by is normal until the rings are fully seated.

Rings have been lapped-in at the factory in production engines for 25 years

On the net I found an official statement that indicates that the smoke is coatings burning off.
Obviously if it were coatings burning off the bike wouldn't use oil and new owners are seeing significant oil consumption.

I called DNA and talked with "John" in customer service. He says that the smoking is caused from a scavenging pump and the bike will smoke until the system is pressurized.
I asked if it would continue to do this for the life of the bike and he said yes.

That is 3 different yet "official" excuses for the smoking issue.

I'm sorry but I find all of this quite problematic. I'm supposed to take delivery of my bike tomorrow, If my bike smokes I may back out of the deal.
Click to expand...


The scavenging system reason is what Ducati told their techs weeks ago. It goes back to another post I made yesterday in that it's directly from the automotive world to reduce pumping losses in the engine. As I posted previously, many new cars smoke upon starting and this pump system is the reason why.

The tech I spoke with some time ago specifically told me of this issue and that Ducati told them to not start the bikes inside. It's perfectly normal and expected that they will smoke on start-up and then clear out.

On a different note, I started a non-ABS S model cold on Saturday morning at my local dealer and it didn't smoke. And I was the last one to ride it the evening before as well and no smoke then. I guess what I'm getting at is that they don't always smoke on start up, but when the do it's normal so long as the smoke clears within 15-20 seconds.
 
flynbulldog said:
My dealer tells me that the smoke is caused by the huge size of the pistons along with the coatings used in the bore and the extreme velocity of the intake charge and some blow-by is normal until the rings are fully seated.
.
Click to expand...

Extreme velocity of the intake charge...

During start up?:)

LOL just dont let him know how stupid that is. What he's trying to do is called "Baffling with ........"
 
DeltaIV said:
Isn't this what warranty is for?
Click to expand...


You don't expect smoke from any new bike, let alone one that is 20K plus.

I love Ducati, but this is disappointing.

Something isn't burning clean, and ultimately it may not rear it's ugly head now but eventually it possibly will.

Like many it has me re-thinking my decision. The bikes will sell regardless. I just don't have time for shop visits. I use my time off to ride.:D
 
When I went to visit my dealer last Sathurday morning (to sit on my baby),
I asked my salesperson if they had started it and if there was any smoke.
They were honest enough to tell me it smoked like hell...!
Filled up their garage, and they had to bring it outside to continue the process of the first start up...they obviously gave me the same spin, DNA is giving to everybody.
I'm far from being as technical as you guys, but honestly, if it last only for the first 600 miles,
it won't bother me...
This will probably be the bike of my life..., I'll accept a few puff of smoke out of it...;)
It had the termi on, if it makes any difference...
 
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I'm not convinced it is an issue, but I'm not buying the rationales to date either. I think the general concern is longevity and what exactly does all that smoke (and mirrors) mean.
 
PeterPan said:
When I went to visit my dealer last Sathurday morning (to sit on my baby),
I asked my salesperson if they had started it and if there was any smoke.
They were honest enough to told me it smoked like hell...!
Filled up their garage, and they had to bring it outside to continue the process of the first start up...they obviously gave me the same spin, DNA is giving to everybody.
I'm far from being as technical as you guys, but honestly, if it last only for the first 600 miles,
it won't bother me...
This will probably be the bike of my life..., I'll accept a few puff of smoke out of it...;)
It had the termi on, if it makes any difference...
Click to expand...

If we are to believe the current story the bike will smoke on start-up for the life of the bike. Is that ok with you?
 
flynbulldog said:
If we are to believe the current story the bike will smoke on start-up for the life of the bike. Is that ok with you?
Click to expand...
If it is due to the new engine design I might be OK with it, if it's a design flaw and will impact engine life, no way :rolleyes:
 
flynbulldog said:
If we are to believe the current story the bike will smoke on start-up for the life of the bike. Is that ok with you?
Click to expand...

Bulldog - Let me know what you see when you get you bike. If this is not resolved I'm going to tell them to F themselves and enjoy the Multi until they get their .... straight. This is so frustrating feeling like they are all full of ....!:mad:
 
There are several owners in Europe who've had the bike for a few weeks now. Are any of you current owners seeing the amount of smoke on start-up dissipate as you stack up the miles?
Or does the amount seem to stay steady from day to day?
 
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flynbulldog said:
There are several owners in Europe who've had the bike for a few weeks now. Are any of you current owners seeing the amount of smoke on start-up dissipate as you stack up the miles?
Or does the amount seem to stay steady from day to day.
Click to expand...

JayKay has had his first service - maybe he can give an update
 
flynbulldog said:
If we are to believe the current story the bike will smoke on start-up for the life of the bike. Is that ok with you?
Click to expand...

Well, it all depends on the long term reliability of the bike.
My dealer was offering an extra 48 months warranty on top of the standard 24 months for an extra 1K, which I added to the financed amount.
Total, this bike will be warranty for 6 years...
It covers everything, including 100% of engine parts. So for now I sleep well...
Will see how it goes.., and no, smoke until the thing gets hot, doesn't bother me too much and will definitely not make me cancel my purchase. ;)
 
flynbulldog said:
There are several owners in Europe who've had the bike for a few weeks now. Are any of you current owners seeing the amount of smoke on start-up dissipate as you stack up the miles?
Or does the amount seem to stay steady from day to day?
Click to expand...

I do read the German 1199 forum and there doesn't seem to be the amount of smoke and concern as I have seen over here. The S that was fired up during the local unveiling put out a considerable amount of smoke though.
 
I often get panicky on big purchases like this one. My wife is a little less wishy washy. She has a sense of these things and for as long as I've known her she's never been wrong.

She says to go get the bike a don't worry about it :rolleyes: I hope she's right!
 
flynbulldog said:
I often get panicky on big purchases like this one. My wife is a little less wishy washy. She has a sense of these things and for as long as I've known her she's never been wrong.

She says to go get the bike a don't worry about it :rolleyes: I hope she's right!
Click to expand...

Good luck.

You are right in that we aren't hearing much from the current owners to verify the smoke issue goes away after the first service. It even appears that the smoke is inconsistent on the bikes of some of these new owners.
 

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